Considering it appears to capture the quirky dark homicidal black comedic spirit of a movie that ranks as one of my all time Top10 favorites with a pretty capable cast, I'm really looking forward to next week's FX premiere of Fargo. Hope I'm not disappointed.

As bracing as the snowy vistas in the movie on which it is based, FX’s “Fargo” quickly establishes itself as its own property, possessing the tone and style of the rightly admired Coen brothers classic, but pursuing a new tawdry true-crime tale, albeit in similar environs. The limited series also goes far out on a limb in proclaiming its veracity, saying its story’s being told “exactly as it occurred” — a claim that invites skepticism (artistic license has a way of encroaching), but does nothing to cool the passion the show should inspire. Boasting a stellar cast and hypnotic tone, is “Fargo” worth a 10-episode commitment? You betcha.

Indeed, what looked like a daunting challenge — translating the Coens’ idiosyncratic style to TV — can join “American Horror Story” in FX’s quiver of limited-series concepts that are well-suited to the genre. Only unlike that overheated mess, “Fargo” has considerable latitude to reboot with a new cast and new crime — a la HBO’s “True Detective” — stretching what once would have been relegated to a TV movie into more marketable “event” territory.

Considering it appears to capture the quirky dark homicidal black comedic spirit of a movie that ranks as one of my all time Top10 favorites with a pretty capable cast, I'm really looking forward to next week's FX premiere of Fargo. Hope I'm not disappointed.

I'll be watching. Who's going to play Macy's role as the blobbing idiot car salesmen / criminal mastermind ? Great role.

Actually they're going the True Detectives limited series route - but each season based on a true crime. Billy Bob Thornton is first up as a quirky killer. Should be entertaining

Quote:

Indeed, what looked like a daunting challenge — translating the Coens’ idiosyncratic style to TV — can join “American Horror Story” in FX’s quiver of limited-series concepts that are well-suited to the genre. Only unlike that overheated mess, “Fargo” has considerable latitude to reboot with a new cast and new crime — a la HBO’s “True Detective” — stretching what once would have been relegated to a TV movie into more marketable “event” territory. What’s most interesting in this permutation, conceived by Noah Hawley, is how the narrative, despite its basis in truth, seems to draw from a variety of Coen brothers movies. The implacable contract killer played by Billy Bob Thornton, for example, feels like a close cousin to Javier Bardem’s philosopher-murderer in “No Country for Old Men,” down to his sadistic streak and tendency to engage prey in casual (if inordinately uncomfortable) conversation. Set in Minnesota in 2006, the multifaceted story centers on Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman), an unsuccessful insurance salesman trapped in a rotten marriage. A chance encounter with a bully from his high school days leads to an emergency room visit, where he chats with Thornton’s killer, there because a car accident has complicated his latest assignment. Faster than you can say “Strangers on a Train,” Lester’s complaints trigger fatal consequences, leading the soft-spoken fellow down a rabbit hole from which there appears to be no happy ending.

I may be prejudiced maybe having lived in MN for a year or so and spending time with in-laws up on the Mesabi Iron Range in the Hibbing, Eveleth area who spoke like the lady cop , but the movie never really got the residual respect as a classic that Pulp Fiction (one of my top 3-5 faves) has received